Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, CA and Alexandria, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, CA and Alexandria, VA

😐 Solo nomad: Carlsbad, CA is 10.1% more expensive than Alexandria, VA without rent, and 14.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Carlsbad, CA is 1.4% more expensive than Alexandria, VA without rent, and 12.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$19.88 $19.88

-0.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83 $83

$79.7 $79.7

4.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$9.83 $9.83

20.55%

Cappuccino

$4.91 $4.91

$4.95 $4.95

-0.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.34 $2.34

18.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.14 $2.14

-8.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.94 $5.94

18.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.1 $7.1

$7.47 $7.47

-4.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.47 $3.47

14.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$6.12 $6.12

-33.82%

Eggs

$5.42 $5.42

$4.96 $4.96

9.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.57 $10.57

$18.77 $18.77

-43.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$10 $10

-16.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$15.99 $15.99

-11.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$6.98 $6.98

-51.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.77 $1.77

-1.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$7 $7

-61.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$6.63 $6.63

-17.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.42 $3.42

7.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.95 $2.95

7.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.49 $2.49

-44.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.63 $2.63

-15.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.86 $10.86

$8.23 $8.23

31.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$16.35 $16.35

-7.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.69 $1.69

-13.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.2 $1.2

$3.83 $3.83

-68.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.92 $2.92

-15.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$175 $175

$80.8 $80.8

116.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 $9.95

$1.83 $1.83

443.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.34 $1.34

27.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.36 $34.36

$24.2 $24.2

41.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.83 $0.83

54.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.4K $23.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

-8.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.4K $24.4K

$24.8K $24.8K

-1.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$238 $238

$171 $171

39.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$46.86 $46.86

$51.9 $51.9

-9.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$67.3 $67.3

-10.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.9 $84.9

$71.6 $71.6

18.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.38 $33.38

Cinema Ticket

$21.07 $21.07

$14.81 $14.81

42.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,199 $1,199

$1,265 $1,265

-5.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$24.1K $24.1K

-0.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$51.6 $51.6

1.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.68 $23.68

$49.04 $49.04

-51.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 $78.3

$96.6 $96.6

-18.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 $85.1

$110 $110

-22.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,627 $2,627

$2,375 $2,375

10.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 $2,251

$1,906 $1,906

18.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,418 $4,418

$3,519 $3,519

25.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,548 $3,548

$2,874 $2,874

23.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,995 $6,995

$3,964 $3,964

76.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,742 $6,742

$3,711 $3,711

81.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,370 $6,370

$5,867 $5,867

8.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.97

6.57

-9.13%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: December 2, 2025

Last update for Alexandria, VA: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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